Former international players call for leadership change at FIFA

A group of former international players, including World Cup winners and Fifa legends, called on Monday for immediate change at world football’s governing body, saying its leadership under embattled president Gianni Infantino had been blinded by power.

Infantino has been under mounting pressure to resign after shelving his proposal to create a commercial body for Fifa tournament rights and sell off 20 per cent to private investors.

“We share the exact same concerns as the millions of fans around the world,” said former players including France’s 1998 men’s World Cup winners Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu and Robert Pires as well as American former women’s world champion Briana Scurry and former England international Lucy Bronze.

“Like them, we have watched the game we love drift away from its core values under Fifa’s current leadership. Change is necessary. Power has blurred the current leadership’s ability to distinguish between its own interests and what is best for football,” the group said.

The group also includes former Peru forward Claudio Pizarro, former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron, former Togo captain Emmanuel Adebayor, and Fifa legends Didier Drogba and David James.

Fifa legends are former players recognised for their contributions to the sport who help promote football on behalf of the global body, playing in exhibition matches and supporting social and charity projects worldwide.